Waikohu and Whangara premier-grade favourites

TAKING AIM: Waikohu’s Arahia Ruru shoots as Lytton goal keep Lauryn Matenga-Houia tries to make things difficult for her in premier-grade netball in the YMCA this year. Waikohu’s Ani Tiko (left) and Lytton’s Ruby Westrupp wait for a possible rebound. Waikohu take on Horouta Gold tomorrow morning and, on form, will be favourites. Picture by Paul Rickard

CLAYDENS Waikohu and Whangara Old Girls will be favourites to win their Gisborne premier-grade netball games in the YMCA tomorrow, even though both will be playing their second game this week.

The form book says they should win well.

At 9am tomorrow, Claydens Waikohu play Horouta Gold, and with Waikohu coming off Wednesday night’s solid victory over Farmlands Ngatapa, they would have the edge.

Horouta struggled to beat Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A last Saturday.

To their credit, Horouta fought their way back into the contest from an 11-goal halftime deficit, but they showed deficiencies that Waikohu will capitalise on.

“Waikohu have won both games between these two teams this season,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“The first one was close but they won the second by a big margin.

“Waikohu moved the ball well on Wednesday night.

“Horouta will need to bring their top game and stay focused for the full hour if they want to take this one.”

Last time Horouta played, they took a while to settle down and Girls’ High made the most of it.

A slow start against Waikohu would be fatal.

“We cannot take Horouta lightly and we won’t,” Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said.

“They are a spoiling team who can knock us off our game.

“So we just need to go out hard from the start and stay focused for the full 60 minutes.

“We also need to make sure we capitalise on whatever ball of theirs we get and ensure we make the most of our own ball.”

In the 11am game tomorrow, Whangara Old Girls play Taste One High School Old Girls.

“It is one win apiece this season for them,” Beale said.

“However, Whangara lead the grade and have displayed some great netball since their loss to HSOG in Round 1. They will be hard to beat.”

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said she expected to see a lift in intensity from her team tomorrow.

“Those girls know they made a lot of errors against Lytton the other night and it was not the type of game they want to to play,” she said.

“I hope that come tomorrow they will step that performance up, and not let complacency slip into their game.

“Tomorrow is a different style of game for them, and they will need to step up.”

Sherrill Beale said HSOG might be encouraged by the way Lytton Senior A pushed Whangara on Wednesday night.

“But HSOG will need to keep the pressure on for the full hour if they want the win.”